Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-16

Dec II, 1851
To the Editor of the Gazette.
On the second day of November the
honora bic Commissioners court Of Tar
rant county concluded to establish camp
for the working of prisoners confined in
the county j.ii for minor ofenses, the
rather than retain them in Jail st an ex-
pense to the county without the county
receiving one iots of benefit therefrom,
and appointed Robert J. Rice, E-Q snd
Messrs. j. A, Z Q. and j. B. Stewart
officers to take charge of such prisoners
as might then be confned in the
county jail, locate camp and
begin the grading Of the pu5llc roads
leading to the county seat, Fort Worth.
These gentlemen purchased tents, stoves,
blankets, etc, and established County
Convict Camp No IL on the south bank
of the Trinity, one and half miles from
the city, at a point where the Missouri
Pacific Railway crosses that stream, and
began Immediately to grade from the
bridge leading from Denton to Fort
Worth. At the outset, everything being
new, and more in the light Of an ex-
pertinent than otherwise, progress was
necessarily slow, and yet from g
careful estimate Of the work, can safely
say that the actual work in grading alone,
could not have been done with hired labor
for less than S2400, and speak from ex
perience. having been in the employ of
Burnett & Fitzpatrick, Burkett, Murphy &
Barnes, and other prominent railway con-
tractors, as fireman and assistant engi-
neer. These gentlemen are now getting
everything in ship shape, and il properly
sustained by the Commissioners, will IN
dOuotedly be OF great service to Tarrsnt
county, not alone in utilizing the prison
ers necessarily thrown upon her, but In
rendering passable the various avenues
leading into the city from all over the
county. And now, Messrs. Editors, hay-
ing spoken oil the initiative, would offer
a few brief suggestions as to the continu-
ance, not alone of the present camp,
but the charging of it, or rather extend
ing It to othsr roads beside the one lead
ing to Denton: Would il not be q wise
and judicious idea upon the part Of the
Commissioners court now in session to
the hiring Uf a certain number
of men by Messers Rec and the Stewards
to carry on the work SO auspiciouslv be-
gun? Let them pay the same wages az
are allowed the county prisoners, pur-
chase separate tent for their accommo-
datiop, and am sure that the amount OF
work done by the force SO hired would
more than tripplet the outlay by the county
understand there are several thousand
dollars in the county treasury 70 the
credit of the bridge and road fund, and no
better time than the present, nc " that the
nucleus has been formed around which TO
build upon, to put such force, under the
direction OF the gentlemen aforementioned
into active operation. This will have TO
be done finally, as it does not stand to
reason that the roads leading into city
Of the sze OF Fort Worth, from county
as large and prosperous as Tarrant, Can
be put in order, mnch less strsigtened out
and extended through the workings OF
convict gang. alone On the contrary,
will soon "tumble" to this
racket, and avoid the Fort, es they would
The devil, whereas if it is once known that
the county will furnish employment to all
deserving obi jets, scores Of honest
will flock to the county, and
what money is paid them for work will be
eft at the county site. One more sug-
yestlon and have done. Ia case the
commissioners CO not feel authorized to
iraw upon the bridge and road fund to |
he extent indicated, would it not be
good as well as just idea upon their part
10 authorize Messrs. r. and S to hire any
prisoners whom they may consider good
workers and good men, for limited
III Der Of days-say tel-atter their term
If service is over, and pay them
IF in wearing apparel? As it is natural
20 presume that after working on the
county roads a few weeks, what the pris-
2ner might have would be pretty well
worn out. In any event, 1t is neither just
Tor proper, to turn man loose at this
eason of the year to look for work with !
out first providing him with suitable gar
nents in which to apply for employment. |
As to the long term conVicts, who may be
lere for months, 1t is nothing but right |
and proper they should be furnished to- |
oacco, according as the officers in charge |
If the camp might think they deserved it |
will close this hastily written letter |
oy stating that at the present writing,
the county have fine mule teams running
daily hauling gravel on the grade near the
Fair grounds on the Denton road afore-
and have six white
md seven colOred prisoners
working on the grade, in the
gravel pit and as cook, and it depends
wholly upon the Commissioners court
whether or not the work begun shall con-
.inue or fall through. R. Il. L.